Eurovision Song Contest Odds: First Semi Final Betting

It's that time of year again, the daffodils are flowering, the lambs are gamboling over hill and dale, the birds are in full song, all heralding... yes that's right Eurovision is almost upon us again! Eurovision 2011 will be bursting onto our screens from Dusseldorf on the 14th May lovingly presented by Graham Norton, taking over the mantle from Terry Wogan and guiding UK TV audiences through the proceedings. Appropriately this auspicious annual occasion is being tracked by online bookmakers Paddy Power who are offering a variety of markets.

With more runners and riders than the Grand National,the competition is divided into three, with two semi finals preceeding the Big Event. Whilst the UK's hopes are pinned on 'not so boy band now' Blue, having ditched the unbeatable formula of producer extraordinaire and unknown singer, which worked neither for empressario Lloyd Webber or Pete Waterman, their attempts at retreiving the trophy which has not been won by the Uk since 1997 will not be hampered by the semi finals, which as founder members they do not have to endure.

The first semi final on 10th May has such short prices on the first 10 contestants that one might assume that these runners and riders are not running with level weights. Azerbaijan at 1/16 to qualify has never actually won, so past form is certainly not key to the prices, although in fairness they have only competed 4 times and have always managed to end there or thereabouts at the final count. Accusations of block voting has supposedly been counteracted by a new voting system, but even last year there were the tell tale signs of bordering nations climbing up the leader board on the backs of their neighbours.

Norway also at odds of 1/16, on the other hand, has competed 50 times, only four less than the UK and has won 3 times so it certainly seems to have an understanding of what is required to succeed. It's most recent win was also only two years ago in Moscow, so unlike the UK it has a better understanding of what Eurovision is all about. Nineteen semi finalists will be whittled down to ten by televoters and a professional jury and the show is broadcast live on German National Television. The offerings of all these countries are freely available on the net, so some real research would be required to sniff out the possible sleeper in the pile.

Eurovision Song Contest Odds

Odds plus a host of Novelty Betting Opportunities courtesy of Paddy Power